So much of my running relates to Newton’s first law. When I’m at rest, I want to stay that way. Once I start moving, well, I’ll go as long as my body allows.

For me, getting out the door, followed by the first three miles of most runs are the worst. My mind balks at the distance that lies ahead.

And it’s not that my mind tells me it would be so much better if I skipped the run ahead either. No, while at home, hours before I plan to head out, my mind says, “Ooh, we need to repot this plant first. Oooh-oooh, no, NOW we need to mop the floor.”

I burn through a number of lame excuses to not head out the door to make those first few steps that warm the legs and get the heart pumping.

Newton’s first law is also clearly reflected in every non-runner I know. If you’ve run for any significant amount of time, you probably automatically know what I mean.

“You don’t understand. I can’t. I’m not a runner.”

I love it, because I do understand. After three marathons I obviously still do understand having those “I can’t” days. This isn’t to mention that it really was not that long ago I did not run myself. I willed myself to it and only have briefly stopped along the way to see how many miles I have come.

The reward is phenomenal, and that’s what I remind myself of, to apply that force of memory to get my at-rest self into motion. I have an incredibly healthy heart, the knowledge I completed something, not once but three times, that very few people rarely do, and have made some pretty incredible friends.

Did you know distance runners are typically amazing, successful people? Yeah, many of them are.

Some days, I’m left with the question, Well, will you run or won’t you?

I always answer with, gee, I guess I will and always finish runs with I am glad I did.

On days I miss a run due to life, I am always sure to schedule in a make up somewhere else. I never want to get so comfortable with not moving that the memory fades and I don’t find myself hitting the road, albeit grudgingly, again.